Fence-post.



om O 9 1 7 A J D E T N E T A P mm 0 EP U U P ITO-"875,769.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1907. 3 SHEETSSHBET 1.

No. 875,769. PATENTED JANQT 1908.

G. S. BEEBE.

FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27. 1907.

3SHEETSSHB3T 2.

No. 875,769. PATENTED JAN. 7, o 0. s. BEEBE. 19 8 FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 190

3 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

lwifnemea rn: mums PETERS ca, \usumcnm, 9 cv CHARLES S. BEEBE, OF PERU, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7', 1908.

Application filed April 2'7. 1907. Serial No. 370.628.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. Bnnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peru, county of Miami, Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence- Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaiiis to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to certain improvements in fences, such as wire or wire fabric fences, and more particularly relates to -im provements in posts, and specifically to what might be termed a post gate.

The objects an d nature of my invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of what I now consider my preferred embodiment, shown in the accompanying drawings, from among other constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope of my iiivention.

An object of my invention is to provide certain improvements in fences, particularly wire or flexible fabric fences, whereby the fence can be conveniently opened by a separable post or post gate for passage, and can beas conveniently closed again, without the employment of expensive gates or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a divisible or separable post, a post gate, whereby the post sections or members can be swung apart at the top or bottom or can be entirely separated and moved apart to open the fence to any desired extent be tween the fixed posts.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in details and ar' rangements and construction of parts whereby an efficient separable post will be pro vided, as a substitute for a fence gate.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction or combinations of detail side elevation of the base and. lower ends of the postineinbei's or sections, the posts being in opened position with then upper ends separated, as in Fig. 5. Fig. 4, is

a detail perspective view showing the base, dotted lines indicating the post member and its socket or coupling member for one base fork arm or leg, the other post member and its socket or coupling being shown in normal or locked position on the other arm or leg of the base fork. Fig. 5, is a detail sectional top plan of the base fork. Fig. 6, is a perspective view showing the post gate opened by swinging on the base fork to separate the upper ends of the post members. Fig. 7, shows part of a fence having two panels thereof opened and swung back by separating the post gate members from their base and from each other. Fig. S, shows part of a wire fence partially opened, that is opened at the lower portion, by separating the lower ends of the post members while maintaining the coupling or connection between the upper ends thereof. Fig. 0, is a detail perspective Sl'iOWiIlg a modified arrangement.

It is often desirable to provide means at various points along wire, wire fabric or other fences, whereby the fence can be temporarily opened for passage and then closed to maintain the continuity of the fence, without'tlie expense incidental to installing and maintaining farm gates such as ordinarily employed. I have provided means for ac complisl'iing this desirable result through the medium of a two-post, separable or sectional post, or what might be termed, two posts included in the fence and provided with means whereby the posts can be secured together or can be separated or discomiected to permit opening the fence.

In the accon'ipanying drawings, I show my invention included in an ordinary running or line wire fence, but do not wish to so limit myself, as my invention can be employed in fences of various constructions, types or fabrics. The device of my invention, is shown included in a panel of the fence between two fixed posts 1, or my two-part post can take the place of a fixed post between the two posts 1, with the line or running wires 2, stapled or otherwise secured to the two-part ost.

The device of my invention comprises two usually similar posts or post sections or members 3, a base or other suitable means for de tachably, pivotally or lmiselylocking or coupcoupling together their lower ends, and means for detachably locking togethr-ir or coupling their upper ends. When locked together in normal or closed position, the post members,

are usually about parallel and spaced a com- I paratively short distance apart and are both approximately arranged in the plane or line of the fence, and the fence fabric or wires are secured to both members which when in said position, act or serve as a fence fpost in maintaining the closed continuity o the fence.

Various means can be employed to couple together the lower ends of the post members, and permit swinging thereof on their lower ends as their upper ends move apart, or permit spreading or separation of their lower ends, or in fact, complete separation of the two post members. If desired, a fixed base can be employed to which the lower ends of the post members can be loosely and detachably coupled and by which the lower ends of said members can be firmly locked and held when in closed position. For instance, I show a metal pipe or rod 4, firmly set in the ground or in a body of concrete, wood or other suitable material, and at its upper end at the surface of the ground carrying and rigid with a strong forked head, usually a strong comparatively heavy casting forming a cross head 5, and the diverglng arms or legs 6, extending upwardly from the opposite ends of the cross-head. This forked head is usually arranged in the plane of the fence, that is, the two legs of the fork are usually alined with or in the line of the fence.

The inner faces 60, of the fork legs 6, longitudinally incline upwardly and outwardly in opposite directions, and are transversely inclined or beveled in opposite directions as shown by dotted lines Fig. 2, and more clearly in Fig. 5, and the upper end of each leg is formed with a rigid transverse stop or shoulder 61, overhanging the inner face 60, of the arm. If desired, instead of stops 61 overhanging their inner faces, the upper ends of the arms can be formed with lateral overhanging stop shoulders 62, at their side edges, see Fig. 9, one arm having a stop 62, at one side edge, and the other arm having a stop 62, at its correspondingly opposite side edge. Also if so desired, the base of each fork arm, can be formed at one side edge with a notch or depression 63, and at the opposite edge with a bulge 64, see Fig. 3, the depression 63, of one arm being opposite the bulge 64, ofthe other arm, that is the positions of the bulges and depressions being reversed in the two arms, as hereinafter set forth.

The post members 3, seat on the cross head 5, between the inner inclined faces 60, of the two fork legs or arms, and are adapted to rock thereon in opposite directions when spread laterally at their upper ends to open the fence. Suitable means can be provided to couple the lower ends of the post members to said fork arms, respectively. For in stance, I show the lower endof each post member 3, cut off at an angle or beveled at its outer edge to receive and fit in an inclined casting or socket plate 7, which is rigidly secured to the lower end of said post member by suitable means such as bolts 71. These socket plates preferably have their flat outer faces inclined upwardly and outwardly approximately at the same angle as the inner faces 60, of the base fork arms against which they fit and bear. The top end edges .7 2, of

.s'aid socket plates can be curved transversely of the plates (see Fig. 3) to move under and form the top stops 61, as the post members are swung to or from normal position, so that when said members are in normal upright and closed position, they will be held down and against direct upward movement by the stops 61, engaging stop edges 72. At one vertical or longitudinal edge, each socket plate is provided with a longitudinal stop flange 73, projecting rearwardly therefrom to engage a side edge of its fork arm and prevent lateral swing of the post member from vertical position, except in one direction as the opposite longitudinal edge of the socket plate is not "provided with such stop flange or shoulder.

The stop flanges 73, of the two socket plates of a pair of post members, are oppositely arranged, that is so that, one member can swing laterally in one direction from closed position, and the other member in the opposite direction. Hence when the two members are locked together in normal or closed position, said flanges 73, bearing against the fork arms, brace and hold the post, composed of the two members, against lateral movement in either direction, while the fork arms aid in bracing the same against the tension of the line wires in theline of the fence.

I show the socket plates confined or coupled to the fork arms by sockets or loops 74, loosely embracing the fork arms. Each socket plate is usually formed in one piece with its loop 7 4, which is open vertically and projects outwardly from the lower end of the plate. One end wall 75, of the loop or socket terminates about in the plane of the stop flange 73, to engage the same edge of the fork arm as said flange when the post member is in normal position and hence aid in limiting the direction of opening movement of said member. The opposite end of the loop is extended laterally of the post member and beyond the fork arm and terminates in the upwardly and outwardly inclined end wall 76, the lower transverse edge of which is adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the fork arm when the post member is in normal vertical position to aid in holding the lower end of the same against lateral play when the post is in vertical position. This extended end of the f clined end wall 76 of the loop moves up into flat engagement with the adjacent side edge of the fork arm (see Fig. 3) and until the lower edge of the opposite loop end wall 75, drops into the fork arm notch 63, the post members then assuming the positions shown in Fig. 6. The engagement of the wall end 75, into the notch 63, prevents the post member moving longitudinally of or sliding upwardly on and from the fork member under the pull ortension of the line wires or for other reasons.

The loops or sockets 7, are so formed as to freely pass down 011 the fork arms and permit free lateral swing of the post members thereon in the intended directions, and so that the post members can be freely lifted and disconnected from 'said fork arms when the post members have been swung to such positions as to disengage the edges 72, of their socket plates from the stops 6], of the fork arms; The loops or sockets of the two post members are oppositely arranged to limit said members to opening swing in opposite directions, that is one socket is extended laterally in one direction and the other loop or socket is extended laterallyin the opposite direction, although I do not wish to so limit all features of my invention.

In the modification disclosed by Fig. 9, the fork arm stop 62, laps over the edge stop flange 73, of the socket plate, and thus holds the socket plate against upward movement on the fork arm 'when the post member is in closed or vertical position.

Any suitable means can be provided for coupling or looking together the upper ends of the post members in vertical or closed position. For instance, I show the upper end of one post member, provided at its side face with a transversely arranged loop or hook-like keeper 8, rigidly secured thereto and opening rearwardly or outwardly and adapted to receive a swinging or rotating cam latch or lever 9, at one end pivoted or fulcrumed, at 10, to the side face of the opposite post member by a suitz'rble horizontal bolt or the like so that the lever can swing to and from engagement with the keeper. Also, if desired, means can he provided to limit the lateral separation of the lower ends of the post members, when lifted from the forked base head and separated, as shown in Fig. 8, while the upper ends of said members remain coupled together by the cam lever or other suitable device. For instance, for this purpose, I can employ swing hook ll, pivoted to one post member a short distance below its upper end and adapted to enter eye or keeper 12, fixed to the opposite post member. However, I do not wish to limit my invention to this feature as various means can be provided for this purpose, \\'henever it is found desirable to thus limit the spacing of the lower ends of the post members while maintaining the upper portion of the fence closed.

The device of this invention can be applied at the location desired to fences previously set up or can be included in fences at the desired points during the crmstruction of the fence. In either event, I lock the two members to their forked base and together in closed vertical position with the fence wire or fabric continued uncut across the post members and under the desired tension. I then usually tightly and strongly staple or otherwise secure each line wire (or the fabric at the necessary points) to each post member with the intervening portions of the wires extended across the space between said me'n'ibers. Then whenever desired, the wires can be out between the two post members, leaving the members coupled together by the cam latch or lever at their. upper ends and by the forked or divided base at their lower ends, whereby the fence is held closed ,and under the desired tension.

Vthen it is desired to open the .fence for passage, the cam lever is swung upwardly or to the right and downwardly until its free end clears the keeper 8, 'and the two post members are swung laterally in opposite directions (see Fig. (3) rocking at their lower ends on the forked base. In thus swinging open, the post members virtually move with and are aided by the tension of the fence wires, the formation or arrangement of the base fork arms is preferably such that thepost members in opening swing not only laterally of the line of the fence but at an inclination, or in planes forming acute angles with the longitudinal plane of the fence. For instance, one post member, preferably swings laterally from the line of the fence and at an inclination toward the right and the other member swings in the opposite direction from the line of the fence and at an inclination toward the left. In fact, the pull of the fence wires will ordinarily swing the post members to open position, immediately on the release or disconnection of their upper ends, and the post members will be held in open position and their outward. movement will be limited by the fork arms (see Fig, 3).

When the post members are swung toward each other to again close the fence, the fence wires will be again tightened byreason of the arrangement of the fork arms and by the transverse bevel or inclination thereof which tends to draw the lower ends of the post members toward each other, and by the cam lever which exerts considerable tension on the post members in drawingtheir upper ends toward each other. The tension of the fence wires, also, aids in lifting the lower ends of the post members from the fork armsof the base, when it is desired to open the fence, as shown by Fig. 7, for the passage of teams also when it is desired to open only the lower &

portion of the fence, see Fig. 8, for passage of small animals while preventing passage of large animals. WVhen the post members, after being thus separated, are again applied to an forced down on the diverging and angularly arranged base fork arms, the lower fence wires will be tightened and the top wires will be tightened by the cam lever in drawing the post upper ends under considerable tension.

It is evident that various changes might be resorted to in the forms, arrangements and constructions of the parts described, and that parts might be added or elements omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the constructions as shown.

lVhat I claim is 1. In fences, a post gate comprising a base, swingable post members detachably and loosely confined to and fulcrumed on the base, and means for detachably coupling together the upper ends of the members under tension.

2. A two-part post comprising swingable post members adapted to have the fence wires or fabric secured thereto, fulcrum means for loosely and detachably coupling together the lower ends of said members, and means for detachably locking together the upper ends of said members under tension to maintain the tension of the fence wires and the closed continuity of the fence.

3. A post comprising two swingable members adapted to have the 'fence wires or fabric secured thereto, a fulcrum base adapted to detachably and loosely couple together the lower ends of said members, the lower ends of said members being fulcrumed on said base, whereby the members can swing laterally thereon to spread at their upper ends, or can be detached therefrom to spread at their lower ends,'and means for detachably and pivotallylocking together the upper ends of said members.

4. A post comprising two post members adapted to have the fence wires or fabric secured thereto and adapted to be detachably connected to maintain the continuity and tension of the fence, and a base therefore adapted to detachably receive the lower ends of said members, said members being pivotally or loosely coupled to said base to swing laterally.

5. A post comprising two laterally swingable post members adapted to have the fence Wires or fabric secured thereto, means for detachably coupling together the upper ends of said members, means for detachably and loosely coupling together the lower ends of said members, and means whereby said members are held against swinging laterally on their lower ends in the same direction.

6. A post comprising two vertical post members adapted to have the fence wires or fabric secured thereto, means for detachably securing said members together to maintain the closed continuity of the fence, and a base for detachably coupling together the lower ends of said members, the lower ends of said members being mounted on said base to spread or swing laterally at their upper ends in opening the fence.

7. A post comprising a base having fork arms, and two post members having sockets at their lower ends to receive said fork arms, and provided with means for detachably locking said post members together.

8. A post comprising two laterally swingable post members adapted to have the fence wires or fabric secured thereto, means for drawing said members toward each other and locking the same in closed position under tension, and a base on which the lower ends of said members are fulcrumed, said base formed with means to hold the lower ends of said members against separation in the line of the fence when said members are in closed position.

9. A wire or fabric fence having a post gate included therein and comprising two vertical post members to which the fence wires or fabric are secured, a base to which the lower ends of said members are fulcrumed and by which they are coupled together, and a cam lever whereby the upper ends of said members are detachably locked together under tension.

10. A post comprising a base having a forked head, two post members at their lower ends fulcrumed on and detachably coupled. together by said head, each member having a socket to receive an arm of said head, and means for detachably coupling together the upper portions of said members.

1 1. A fence provided with a post gate comprising two vertical post members to which the wire fence fabric or wires are secured, a base to which the lower ends of said members are fulcrumed to permit the same to swing or spread laterally at their upper ends, and means whereby the upper ends f said members can be drawn together/and dctachably locked'under tension to maintain the closed continuity of the fence, whereby the fence can be opened by disconnecting said means and swinging said members laterally in opposite directions and on said base.

12. A post comprising two vertical post members adapted to have the fence wire or fabric secured thereto, means for coupling together the upper portions of the members, a base adapted to be fixed in the ground, the lower endsof said members being detachably fulcrumed on said base, whereby said members can be swung laterally in opposite direcT tions to open the fence at its upper portion, or while the upper portions of said members remain connected their lower portions can be separated to open the lower portion of the bers to swing laterally and at an inclination fence, and means for limiting the spread of i in opposite directions in the directions of the the lower portions of said members when detached from said base.

13. In a post, in combination, two vertically disposed post members provided with means for coupling the same detachably together, each member at its lower end having an upwardly and outwardly inclined outer face and a loop socket, and. a base having a forked head comprising upwardly and out wardly diverging arms detachably receiving said sockets, said post members adapted to fit in the head between. said arms, and stop means limiting said members against swinging on said base in the same direction, and against direct upward detachment from said base when said members are in their closed vertical position. i

14. A post comprising two post members having socket plates secured to their lower ends and formed with sockets and stop flanges, and a base having a forked head, the lower ends of said members fitting between the fork arms with said socket plates in engagement therewith and said socket detachably receiving said arms, said stop flanges being oppositely arranged to engage said arms and prevent swing of said members in the same direction.

15. A post comprising post members, and a base to which the lower ends of said members are detaeliably fulcrumed to permit lateral swing of the members in. opposite directions, means to hold said members against detachment from said base when said members are in vertical closed position, and means to hold said members against detachment from said base when said members are at their limits of spread or open position on said base.

16. A fence comprising a two-part post consisting of two vertical post members having the fence wire or fabric secured thereto, a fixed base on which the lower ends of said members are fulcrumed to permit the members to swing laterally in opposite directions in opening the fence, said base being constructed and arranged to permit said memtension or pull of the fence wires, and means for detachably coupling together the upper portions of the members under tension, substantially as described.

17. A post gate comprising swingable post members adapted to have the fence wires secured thereto, a base on which the lower ends of the members are fulcrumed, whereby said members can swing on said base to separate at their upper ends, and means for holding the members in closed position.

18. In combination, a pair of post members, a base on which the lower ends of said members are detachzibly fulcrumed, whereby the members can swing apart at their upper ends, and means pivotally and detachably coupling together the upper ends of said members, whereby said members can swing apart at their lower ends when detached from said base.

19. In combination, a base adapted to be fixed in the ground, two post members at their lower ends fulcruined on and detachably coupled to said base to swing laterally thereon, and means for detachably and pivotally coupling the upper portions of said members together, whereby said members can be separated from the base and from each other to open a panel of the fence, or can be swung apart laterally at their upper or at their lower ends swinging on said base or on said means as a center.

20. A post gate comprising two swingable members adapted to have the fence wires secured thereto, a base on which said members are fulcrumed, one member provided with a keeper, and a cam lever fulcrumed to the other member to engage said keeper and draw said members toward each other under tension and maintain the members in closed position.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. S. BEEBE.

\Vitnesses:

L. NIEMEYER, O. A. WVmMEn. 

